Harman PC 45 Used/ Should I buy this?

[Watcher1]

Found a PC 45 about 75 miles from me for $1000. I am wondering about parts availability, either company or online/ I have been running Magnum stoves the last few years. I started with a Baby now using a 3500 I burn mostly corn with a few pellets mixed in.

 

[DAKSY]

It's a good price.
When was it manufactured?
Is it big enough to heat what you need to heat?

 

[Watcher1]

It's a good price.
When was it manufactured?
Is it big enough to heat what you need to heat?

I think it would heat better than my 3500 I know it is at least 1 year old as they are discontinued.

 

[Watcher1]

Meant to say 10 years old.

 

[DAKSY]

Your call, then. Me?
I think the Harman's are top of the line & I'm pretty sure you will
be able to find any parts you need, at least for another year or two.
Many parts are interchangeable except for the corn burnpot & auger extension...

https://pellet-stove-parts-4less.com/collections/harman-pellet-stove-parts-pc45

 

[jzm2cc]

For 100% corn I think a St Croix Auburn is a better choice (simple stove and easy to use, just use leaf blower on exhaust a couple times a winter). I have a PC-45 also, but just burn pellets in it as stir rod creates an ash mess. Clunker pot designs aren't so messy. My 2 cents.

 

[Watcher1]

For 100% corn I think a St Croix Auburn is a better choice (simple stove and easy to use, just use leaf blower on exhaust a couple times a winter). I have a PC-45 also, but just burn pellets in it as stir rod creates an ash mess. Clunker pot designs aren't so messy. My 2 cents.

DAKSY Thanks for that link! Working on trying to get this.

 

[rona]

I like the St Croix but the Harman 45 for 1000.00 is hard to beat. It has great features such as auto start and stop or it can idle if you want. They last a long time compared to other stoves. If you burn corn they will work real good if you blend pellets with the corn.

 

[jzm2cc]

Rona I agree, really good stoves, had a few of them over the years. They do seem to suffer from auger tube erosion unfortunately which is a real joy to fix.

 

[rona]

What is auger tube erosion? I have worked with many Harman pc45s since they came out and never seen auger tube erosion? Actually never heard of it. I have had and worked on then since 2004.

 

[Watcher1]

I will check on that. Hope I am the new owner of a PC45 this week. Hoping they have some extra parts.

 

[Watcher1]

I will check on that. Hope I am the new owner of a PC45 this week. Hoping they have some extra parts.

Got it! Going to pick it up this week.

 

[jzm2cc]

Tube erosion occurs at 6-7pm position typically, can happen after auger tip has worn a bit and fire burns back more than usual. It exposes the air feed channel to the auger tube.

I think it's more common on 45's, than 38, 43, 61's, possibly due to horizontal burn pot verses inclined models. Pellets and fire die down quickly on pc45 exposing tip of auger to flame when going to idle mode

Granted it's never stopped me from owning them, but it's a pita to fix correctly (feeder weldment replacement, or welding and machining existing assembly.

 

[bags]

Parts are pretty easy to find for them anywhere on the internet. $1,000 bucks is a good deal if the stove is in decent working order.

 

[rona]

Tube erosion occurs at 6-7pm position typically, can happen after auger tip has worn a bit and fire burns back more than usual. It exposes the air feed channel to the auger tube.

I think it's more common on 45's, than 38, 43, 61's, possibly due to horizontal burn pot verses inclined models. Pellets and fire die down quickly on pc45 exposing tip of auger to flame when going to idle mode

Granted it's never stopped me from owning them, but it's a pita to fix correctly (feeder weldment replacement, or welding and machining existing assembly.

What fuel is being burned when this happens? If it is pellets do you use that pellet kit that boosts btus to 50,000? Its strange that I have never seen or heard of this problem. The dealer I worked with had sold close to 100 45s since they were introduced and we never had to replace a auger.

 

[bags]

What fuel is being burned when this happens? If it is pellets do you use that pellet kit that boosts btus to 50,000? Its strange that I have never seen or heard of this problem. The dealer I worked with had sold close to 100 45s since they were introduced and we never had to replace a auger.

My auger is OEM equipment. My burn pot weldment at the top where flame guides are on newer P Series is a bit chewed up. Still no issue. Not sure why but the guy I bought it from was the original owner and said he only burned corn. Seems more like a bit of rust etc; to me but I wouldn't rule out the corn helping that out. The end of the auger is good and never has been replaced that I know of.

Anyway, Hello Ron. Hope all is well with you. It was 60* here today and dropping tonight. Supposed to get 5" of snow starting tomorrow afternoon. Yippie! Shorts one day and overalls the next.

I still have the extra parts I bought from you back in 2014 for back ups. The Boss Lady here has been cracking the whip and I've been getting other areas of this never ending house project done so the PC-45 will finally be living and working a more full time job beginning the fall of 2018.

 

[Watcher1]

So I am going down to get this unit Thursday, sounds like I have to uninstall it for the old folks, should be fun. Looking over the parts details on the PC45 boy a lot going on compared to my Magnum 3500. I wonder about thermostat? Can I wire one in from my upstairs, because the unit will be in the basement and not sure how the one that comes with it will work down here. I have some duck work set up on the 3500 to move the heat right up the stairway. The basement hangs at about 64 upstairs usually around 70. I am hoping to get a little more heat out of the 45 just from the better efficiency. Thanks for any help here.

 

[rona]

So I am going down to get this unit Thursday, sounds like I have to uninstall it for the old folks, should be fun. Looking over the parts details on the PC45 boy a lot going on compared to my Magnum 3500. I wonder about thermostat? Can I wire one in from my upstairs, because the unit will be in the basement and not sure how the one that comes with it will work down here. I have some duck work set up on the 3500 to move the heat right up the stairway. The basement hangs at about 64 upstairs usually around 70. I am hoping to get a little more heat out of the 45 just from the better efficiency. Thanks for any help here.

Should be easy to uninstall if you have a decent moving cart. Maybe you can save some pipe and sleeves for your install. There should be a thermostat wire that came with the stove. it won't have a thermostat hooked up but its a special wire that has a built in temp probe. Also helpful if you have a manual.

 

[Watcher1]

Thanks rona: yes been reading up on the unit guess the folks had their grand son in hook everything for me. Said the exhaust pipe was pretty much shot. Guess I will see in the morning how this looks.

 

[jzm2cc]

You can use a mili-volt thermostat by connecting it in series with the room temp probe. No need to cut wires, just unplug one of the wires at the back of the stove, hook wire into thermostat and the other thermostat wire into the stove. This only works in room temp mode by the way.

Also set the stove temperature higher than you'll want to heat to, and control the actual room temp level from the thermostat.

 

[Watcher1]

So got the PC45 home. fired it up outside the shop everything works. Very dirty as is always the case when I buy a new stove. It's a 2010 year model folks said they never replaced anything on it, so I will this summer. I didn't realize hot the outside of these got wow!

 

[Watcher1]

You can use a mili-volt thermostat by connecting it in series with the room temp probe. No need to cut wires, just unplug one of the wires at the back of the stove, hook wire into thermostat and the other thermostat wire into the stove. This only works in room temp mode by the way.

Also set the stove temperature higher than you'll want to heat to, and control the actual room temp level from the thermostat.

Thanks for this. Copied and saved.

 

[rona]

Yes you can keep soup warm on top of it. spare parts - I would keep a ESP probe, a door gasket kit, and a extra stirrer rod. If you are going to burn just pellets I have a pellet conversion kit that eliminate the stirrer rod and can bump the btus up from 45,000 btu to 50,000 btu

 

[jzm2cc]

Rona, here are two examples of PC-45 auger tube erosion since you were asking what it looks like.

 

[Watcher1]

So got the PC45 home. fired it up outside the shop everything works. Very dirty as is always the case when I buy a new stove. It's a 2010 year model folks said they never replaced anything on it, so I will this summer. I didn't realize hot the outside of these got wow!

Sorry incorrect date it's a 2005. If I have to spent $750 on all new parts I will be a happy camper!